WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2007 - Roche today announced
results of a small study demonstrating that all patients who
discontinued treatment with Peg-Intron(R) (peginterferon alfa-2b)
and ribavirin due to adverse events within the first 12 weeks, were
able to complete 12 weeks of treatment with PEGASYS(R)
(peginterferon alfa-2a) and ribavirin. Furthermore, 92 percent of
these patients were able to go on and complete a full course of
treatment with PEGASYS. The data, which were presented at the 38th
annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) conference, suggest that
PEGASYS may be an option for patients who prematurely discontinue
treatment with Peg-Intron for tolerability reasons.

"Tolerability, particularly early on in therapy, is so important
to consider because a patient who is unable to complete a full
course of therapy cannot achieve a successful outcome. This study
was designed to explore an important question: whether patients who
are intolerant to one form of pegylated interferon may be more
tolerant to another form," said Vinod K. Rustgi, M.D., Clinical
Professor of Medicine and Surgery at Georgetown University Medical
Center, Washington, D.C. "These results indicate patients who have
discontinued treatment with Peg-Intron due to symptoms such as
depression, fatigue and flu-like symptoms, may be able to complete
12 weeks of PEGASYS, and potentially go on to complete a full
course of therapy."

About the Study (Abstract ID# M1872)

The data presented today are from an open-label, multicenter
trial that enrolled 57 HCV genotype 1 patients who could not
tolerate (n=25) or did not respond (n=32) to 12 weeks of treatment
with Peg-Intron and ribavirin. Overall, 88 percent of the total
study population (100 percent of Peg-Intron non-tolerators and 81
percent of Peg-Intron non-responders) were able to complete 12
weeks of therapy with PEGASYS. Twenty-three of the 25 Peg-Intron
non-tolerator patie
nts completed a full course of treatment with
PEGASYS (one patient was withdrawn for insufficient response at 12
weeks and one patient withdrew consent).

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infectious disease of the liver and
a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver
transplants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), an estimated 4.1 million Americans (1.6 percent)
have been infected with hepatitis C; 3.2 million are chronically
infected. The number of new infections per year has declined from
an average of 240,000 in the 1980s to about 26,000 in 2004. CDC
estimates the number of hepatitis C-related deaths could increase
to 38,000 annually by the year 2010, surpassing annual HIV/AIDS
deaths.

About PEGASYS

PEGASYS, in combination with COPEGUS (ribavirin), are indicated
for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C who have
compensated liver disease and have not previously been treated with
interferon alpha. Efficacy has been demonstrated in patients with
compensated liver disease and histological evidence of cirrhosis
(Child-Pugh class A) and patients with HIV disease that are
clinically stable (e.g., antiretroviral therapy not required or
receiving stable antiretroviral therapy). In addition, PEGASYS in
combination with COPEGUS is the first and only FDA-approved regimen
for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients coinfected
with hepatitis C and HIV. PEGASYS is the only pegylated interferon
indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic
hepatitis B (HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B
who have compensated liver disease and evidence of viral
replication and liver inflammation).

PEGASYS is dosed at 180mcg as a subcutaneous injection taken
once a week. COPEGUS is available as a 200mg tablet, and is
administered orally two times a day as a split dose. Roche has
backed PEGASYS with the most extensive clinical research program
eve
r undertaken in hepatitis C, with major studies initiated to
advance treatment for hepatitis C patients with unmet needs,
including patients co-infected with HIV and HCV, African Americans,
patients with cirrhosis, and patients who have failed to respond to
previous therapy.

Important Safety Information about PEGASYS

What is PEGASYS?

PEGASYS is a medicine used to treat some adults who have
hepatitis C or hepatitis B and signs of liver damage. PEGASYS works
to reduce the amount of virus in your blood, helping your body
fight the virus.

PEGASYS (Peginterferon alfa-2a), like other alpha interferons,
can cause fatal or make life-threatening problems worse (like
mental, immune system, heart, liver, lung, intestinal and
infections). Your doctor should monitor you during regular visits.
If you show signs or symptoms of these conditions, your doctor may
stop your medication. In most patients, these conditions get better
after you stop taking PEGASYS (see medication guide for more
information and warnings).

What is COPEGUS?

COPEGUS is a medicine that works by slowing down the growth of
the virus. COPEGUS should be taken with PEGASYS to fight the virus.
Do not take COPEGUS by itself.

COPEGUS (Ribavirin, USP) can be extremely harmful and cause
birth defects in an unborn baby. Female patients and the female
partners of male patients should avoid getting pregnant. Ribavirin
is known to cause anemia (low red blood cells), which can make
heart disease worse. Also, ribavirin can harm your DNA and possibly
cause cancer (see medication guide for more information and
warnings).

Who should not take PEGASYS and COPEGUS?

Do not take PEGASYS alone or with COPEGUS if:

-- You are pregnant or your partner is pregnant

-- You or your partner plans to get pregnant during therapy or
within 6 months after treatment ends

-- You are breastfeeding

-- You have hepatitis caused by your immune system (autoimmune
hepatitis)

-- You have unstable or severe liver disease before or during
treatment

-- You are allergic to alpha interferons or any of the
ingredients in PEGASYS and COPEGUS

-- You have abnormal red blood cells (caused by conditions like
sickle-cell anemia or thalassemia major)

What if I am pregnant or thinking about having a baby?

If you are a woman who could get pregnant, you must take
pregnancy tests before, during and for 6 months after treatment
ends to make sure you are not pregnant.

During treatment and for 6 months after treatment, female and
male patients must:

-- Use two forms of birth control (one being a condom with
spermicide)

-- Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes
pregnant. You or your doctor should also call the Ribavirin
Pregnancy Registry at 1-800-593-2214

What medication should I avoid when I am taking PEGASYS and
COPEGUS?

You should not take didanosine with COPEGUS. Talk to your doctor
about all medications that you are taking.

-- Liver problems (rarely, liver function worsens). Patients
with both the hepatitis C virus and HIV can have an increased
chance of having liver failure during PEGASYS treatment. Change in
a blood test that measures liver inflammation occurs more often in
patients with hepatitis B. If you have a rise in this blood test
you may need to be watched more closely with additional blood
tests.

Tell your doctor immediately if you think you or your partner
may be pregnant or if any of these symptoms occur.

About DDW

DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians,
researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology,
hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly
sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver
Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and
the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place
May 19-24, 2007, at the Washington Convention Center, Washington,
DC. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and
hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research,
medicine and technology. For more information, visit
www.ddw.org.

About Roche

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the
U.S. pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the
world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups with core
businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. For more than 100
years, the Roche Group has been committed to developing innovative
products and services that address prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's health an
d quality
of life. An employer of choice, in 2006, Roche was named one of the
Top 20 Employers (Science magazine), ranked the No. 1 Company to
Sell For (Selling Power), and one of AARP's Top Companies for Older
Workers, and in 2005, Roche was named one of Fortune magazine's
Best Companies to Work For in America. For additional information
about the U.S. pharmaceuticals business, visit our websites:
http://www.rocheusa.com or www.roche.us.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected
by law.

Peg-Intron(R) is a registered trademark of Schering-Plough
Corporation.

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